CARDAMOM: Super Spices for Spring

Green Cardamom:

Cardamom, also known as Elaichi in Sanskrit, is regarded as the queen of spices and contains cineole, its active antioxidant compound. Cardamom stimulates agni without aggravating pitta and clears excess kapha from the stomach. It is also helpful in clearing cough associated with mucous.

Cardamom refreshes the breath; is excellent to soothe sore throats and eases sinus infections. It has a delicately pleasant aroma and flavor and can be enjoyed in sweet and savory dishes.

Spring Time Use:

Cardamom is an excellent antidote to the mucous generating quality of dairy products. Add to warm milk, tea and other dairy products. Add ground cardamom when making rice or simply sprinkle it over your fruit salad.

Cardamom is a great spice to bake as well. Try adding cardamom to cookies, cupcakes and fruit desserts in spring season to brighten up the flavor of your baked goods.

Complimenting food with spices allows us to take full advantage of nature’s best form of healing intelligence. We know that spices are used for culinary flavor enhancement, but in Ayurveda, spices play a critical role in promoting health and overall digestion.

These five super spices are excellent when used daily during spring to counterbalance the kapha qualities and help boost overall immune health all season long.

Wellness in a Copper Bottle

Copper Bottle by beSPICED

Drinking water from a copper bottle is an age old practice in India. Copper has many anti-microbial properties. Storing water in a copper vessel has the ability to destroy many harmful microbes. According to Ayurveda, an ancient holistic science of life from India that dates back more than 5000 years ago, drinking water stored in a copper vessel kindles our digestive fire or Agni.

This practice is safe for all three doshas or bio-energies. Current medical studies support this ancient Ayurvedic practice and consider it safe to use.

Be sure to discuss this practice with your health practitioner to rule out any contraindications.

  PURCHASE YOUR COPPER BOTTLE HERE

My Personal Story and a Little Bit about the Birth of this Copper Bottle

For as long as I can remember, I have watched my mom boil several gallons of water every night and once it was cooled would transfer the water to a big copper pitcher with a spout. This would be the water we used for drinking through the day as a family. This is still a practice in my home in India and I have continued this practice in my home in the US. The difference is I don't boil the water. I simply fill my copper pitcher at night and we drink water from this copper vessel the following day.

Idea: I have had many questions and lots of curiosity about this practice when folks come to my kitchen during my cooking classes. So the last time, I was in India for family trip during summer of 2017 I decided to design a water bottle that would be an ideal solution to drink water through the day in a copper bottle. The bottle is engraved with Naivedhya (which means an offering) and also "You are What you Drink".

Process: The process took several months with going back and forth on design, bottle specifications, shipping issues and most importantly me being satisfied about quality of the materials and the process to manufacture these. After months of patience and perseverance, I received my first batch in time for the holiday season of 2017 Christmas. The bottles were instantly sold out with a couple of social media posts. They were loved and supported. I also asked for feedback from the first lucky customers and went back and made minor tweaks. And finally received a new batch in early 2018.

Another Wish Fulfilled: I have always wanted to give back to a local charity that spoke to my heart. While I was designing this bottle, I also was constantly thinking about fulfilling this wish of mine. I have been inspired by a local Dallas family whose daughters have been creating origami art to help with water crisis and fund water projects across the globe through their non-profit called "Paper for Water". I had personally met the Adams family at a local event and was inspired by their enthusiasm and have been following their story on social media. During the time I was expecting my first shipment of copper bottles from India, I reached out to the Adams family and shared about the copper bottles and my wish to donate a portion of sales of each bottle to their cause. The common connection of India (where they have water projects and also where my bottles are made one at a time) and mission for clean water was simply perfect. They were excited and fell in love with the bottle and my work. So, I am so proud to say that with purchase of every copper bottle you are also going to contribute towards the cause of providing clean water to those that might not have access to this basic necessity of life.

You are What you Drink: Get your 100% copper bottle today and change the way to drink water every single day.

What Can I fill in this Copper Bottle

• This bottle is ONLY meant for room temperature water.

• DO NOT add ice, ice water, soups, teas or any other beverages.

• DO NOT add other ingredients (e.g. no limes, fruit).

• Ideally store water for 8-10 hours or overnight before drinking.

• Replace water every 24 hours.

Care of your Copper Bottle

Prior to first time use

• Thoroughly wash with warm water and a drop of gentle dish soap. Use a bottle brush to scrub the inside of the bottle thoroughly.

• Fill the bottle with water and store overnight. Discard this water.

• Repeat (fill, store, discard) one more time before using the bottle.

NOW your bottle is ready to use.

Regular Care

• ​Hand wash ONLY. Never in a dishwasher.

• Regular clean the inside of the bottle with warm water and a drop of gentle soap. Scrub with a bottle brush.

• If you don't like the idea of dish soap, you can add 1 tablespoon of distilled vinegar OR 1 tablespoon of lemon juice + fill with hot water. Put the lid on and shake the bottle and give a nice scrub from inside with the bottle brush.

The bottle will lose its shine with use. Enjoy the natural patina. If you must polish the exterior, use copper polish or scrub with salt and lemon wedge.

PURCHASE YOUR COPPER BOTTLE HERE.

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